Posts Tagged ‘
college ’

Starting a college savings fund is one of the most important things parents can do for a child, but it can also be one of the most difficult—especially for the many who live paycheck to paycheck. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-Kansas) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-Wisconsin) are trying to make it a little easier.

They recently introduced legislation that would make 529 college-savings plan contributions eligible for a SAVERs tax credit of up to $1,000 for individual filers and $2,000 for those filing jointly. The bill, known as H.R. 529, would also allow companies to match up to $600 annually of their employees’ college-savings contributions tax-free.

“A 529 plan is a powerful tool for helping families cope with the rising cost of college. The improvements in this bill will help put a college degree within reach of more children,” says Hon. Michael L. Fitzgerald, chair of The College Savings Plans Network.

H.R. 529 was assigned last month to a Congressional committee, which will consider it before possibly sending it to the House or Senate for debate. You can show your support for the bill by contacting Eric Schmitz in Rep. Jenkins’s office at eric.schmutz@mail.house.gov or by phone at (202) 225-6601. You can also track its progress on govtracks.us.

Children’s Preexisting Symptoms Influence Their Reactions to Disaster Coverage On TV
The new study finds that while the amount of exposure to disaster coverage matters, children’s preexisting symptoms of post-traumatic stress also play an important role. (via Science Daily)

Kids Consume More Soda and Calories When Eating Out
Children and adolescents consume more calories and soda and have poorer nutrient-intake on days they eat at either fast-food or full-service restaurants, as compared to days they eat meals at — or from — home. (via Science Daily)

Record Number Complete High School and College
Although the United States no longer leads the world in educational attainment, record numbers of young Americans are completing high school, going to college and finishing college, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of newly available census data. (via New York Times)

Vitamin D Levels Decrease During Winter Months In Women With Health Conditions
Women with health issues such as arthritis and diabetes are much more likely to have inadequate levels of vitamin D during the winter than in the summer, according to new research introduced at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Annual Meeting. (via Medical News Today)

In Abortion Fight, Disabled Woman’s Parents Turn to Nevada High Court
The parental guardians of a 32-year-old pregnant disabled woman have asked the Nevada Supreme Court to block a judge from holding hearings that anti-abortion activists believe could end in the termination of the woman’s pregnancy. (via LA Times)

Editor’s Note: Parents.com has partnered with LearnVest.com to bring you a monthly series of posts about money topics related to moms. These guest posts will be shorter, edited versions of longer features written by Cheryl Lock, Editor at LearnVest.

As we all know, the cost of parenting can last long after the kids are grown and out of the house. Money spent on diapers and formula morphs into summer camp fees and back-to-school gear. Then, before you know it, you’re paying for your kid’s college loans well into your 40s and 50s.

Okay, so that’s probably not the way most parents envision spending their money as they near retirement, but according to recent data, quite a few are already feeling that sting. And it makes sense: The average cost of four-year universities rose by 15% between 2008 and 2010, and keeps on climbing higher. Not every family is willing to tax themselves beyond their limits to meet those new sticker prices, though. In a recent survey, only 53% of parents (down from 64% in the 2009-2010 academic year) said they would stretch themselves financially to pay for college.

But taking out loans that you might not be able to pay back is a financial road you don’t want to go down. Data released recently by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that middle-aged Americans are actually the age group struggling the most with student loan payments. Not only has the number of middle-aged Americans with student loans doubled since 2005, the delinquency rate (the percentage of debt on which no payment has been made for 90 days)for borrowers ages 40 to 49 was 11.9%, compared to a delinquency rate of 8.7% for borrowers of all ages.

While it’s definitely true that some of these over-40 debtors are still paying off their own loans from college, it appears that many are parents who have taken out student loans to help fund their children’s education. In fact, The Wall Street Journal reports that the federal PLUS program, which allows parents to take out loans to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid, is among the fastest-growing of the government’s education loan programs.

Ouch-Free Vaccines? They’re in The Works
Every parent dreads holding the baby still while a nurse or technician pushes a needle into a plump little thigh. But what if a little clear patch arrived by mail, one that could be stuck onto the child’s back and then would dissolve painlessly? (via MSNBC)

Music Lessons Linked to Lasting Brain Benefits
A study of 45 young adults found those with at least one year of childhood musical training had enhanced neurological responses to sound, a trait tied to improved learning and listening abilities. (via ABC)

More Hispanics Are in College, Report Finds
College enrollment has soared for Hispanic young adults in the last few years. Among Americans ages 18 to 24 with a high school diploma or equivalent, 46 percent of Hispanics were enrolled in college last year, up from 37 percent in 2008. (via New York Times)

Child Eating Disorders On the Rise
A study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality showed that hospitalizations for eating disorders in children under 12 increased by 119% between 1999 and 2006. (via CNN)

Some Colleges Cut Tuition, Hasten Graduation
Even before President Barack Obama announced plans last month to push colleges to improve affordability, a number of schools beat him to the punch by lowering tuition and helping students graduate in fewer semesters.

Foster Kids Are Overly Medicated, Report Says
Foster children on Medicaid received psychotropic drugs—including antipsychotics and antidepressants—at a higher rate than other children covered by the government insurance program, according to a federal report released Thursday.